STATES SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 55, 2 September 1915, Page 4

STATES SERVICE

ALLOWANCE FOR MRS. GARLICK THE HOUSE FAVOURABLE. Some discussion took place in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon on the question as to whether tho Government should make a compassionate allowance to the widow of the late Mr. Royd Garlick. The debate arose out of a petition by Mrs. Garlick for compensation, the Committee which dealt with the matter reporting that it had no recommendation to make. Mr. R. A. Wright said" that when the late Mr. Garlick and Mrs. Garlick were conducting a physical culture school, Mr. Garlick was making £700 a year. When Jif was appointed Physical Direc- j tor for the Government he was compelled j to relinquish his association with the school, with the result that the pupils j fell away. The sum of £1000 had been expended in improvements, and the petition had been made in order to enable the debts incurred .to be paid. Mrs. Garlick intended to leave for the front as a hospital nurse. When the late Mr. Garlick was conducting his own school, he was in perfect health, and it was worry arising out of his Government position that was largely responsible for his death. He moved that the petition be referred back for further consideration. Mr. G. Witty supported the motion. The case seemed a most deserving oneWhatever had been said in the House had nothing- whatever to. do with Mr. and Mrs. Garlick personally, but the method of the appointment. .Sir Joseph Ward said he_ could not help feeling that it was not justice that was being meted out to the. widow of a man who had been a servant, of the State. He was in favour of the matter being referred back. Mr. R- Fletcher said that on the "last but one occasion on which they had met the Committee had been practically a full one, and the matter would have been decided had they had the evidence. That day they had met again, and there were comparatively 'few members present, and he did not think under the circumstances that the recommendation was such as would have been made under other circumstances. \ Mr. W. H. Field urged sympathy for the petitioner, who was really in neces sitous circumstances. Mr. .Royd Garlick had affected his health by his assiduous attention (to his duties, and there was little doubt that the public discussions that had gone on in regard to his appointment had injuriously affected his health.. He suggested tha€~the petition be referred back for further consideration. The Hon. James Allen hoped that the petition would be referred back for .favourable consideration. It was agreed when the deceased took up his position that he should entirely separate himself from his own school. This he had done. Mrs. Royd Garlick was unfortunately disadvantageous^ saddled with a lease. " Whatever may be said about the appointment," said Mr. Allen, " that is my concern, and I would defend it, and do defend it. But that is notthe point now. This man gave up his private means and made an important sacrifice to come to the service of the State. He made a sacrifice, and I know it, and the worry of his position led him to an early grave, and has left his widow totally unprovided for. I want now, publicly, to say that the appointment was the wisest that could possibly have been made at the time. No one regrets more than I do the loss of a man xvho has done so much work for the country. He had high ideals about the question of physical education and about tlw 1 moral aspect pi itj and had he been able to carry it out it would have had a wonderful effect upon the country." The Minister hoped that Mr. Garlick's 'puccessor "vould be imbued with equally high ideals. He also hoped that the matter receive further consideration, and that the country would do what was right. Mr. L. M. Isitt supported the motion, and said he thought tlte Government should do the generous thing. Mr. A. Harris, a member of the Committee, explained, that the petition had been considered wholly on its merits. It had been considered on three separate occasions. He had no objection to the matter being referred back, but he did not think any further facts would be adduced by such a course. After Mr. Royd Garlick. was appoint d by the Government the school still continued under the name of the Royd Garlick School of Physical Instruction, and it was incorrect to say that the school had ceased to be known by that name. Mr. J. S. Dickson, another member of the Committee, objected to the remarks of the Minister of Finance. Mrs. Garlick had stated before the Committee that if she received any money from the Government she would use it to pay her creditors. Mr. J. H. Escotfc, Chairman of the Committee, said that political considerations had not entered into the Committee's deliberations at all. He would offer no opposition to the petition being referred back, and would go as far as to say that if Mrs. Garlick would assure the Committee that any money granted would be devoted to her own use, and not for the benefit of her creditors, the Committee would make the recommendation. The report was referred back to the Committee on the voices.